Afghanistan Observes National Journalists' Day Amid Intensified Media Restrictions Under Taliban
Afghanistan marked National Journalists' Day on Wednesday, 27 Hoot, a date approved by the previous government's cabinet under Mohammad Ashraf Ghani on March 5, 2019, and added to the official calendar.
Media support institutions have reported that violations against journalists and media rights have intensified under Taliban rule, with threats, restrictions, and censorship reaching heightened levels.
The Afghanistan Journalists Center stated in its annual report that the Taliban closed 15 television and visual media outlets in 2025, the fourth year of their rule. The center documented 205 cases of violence and violations of media rights across the country that year, marking a 13% increase in censorship, threats, and violence against media workers compared to the previous year. It also reported that five journalists remained in Taliban prisons at the end of 2025.
Informed sources indicated that following Pakistan's recent airstrikes, the Taliban increased pressure and censorship on domestic media to control coverage.
Additionally, in 2025, the Taliban enforced Article 17 of the law of the Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, banning the publication or broadcast of images of living beings in 16 provinces.
Know more about this story?
If you have additional information or believe something is inaccurate, let us know. Your tips help us stay accurate.
Where reports agree
- National Journalists' Day observed on 27 Hoot, approved in 2019 by previous government
- Intensified violations, threats, censorship against journalists under Taliban
- Increased media pressure after Pakistan airstrikes
- 15 media outlets closed by Taliban in 2025
- 13% rise in censorship/threats/violence per Afghanistan Journalists Center
- 205 media rights violations documented in 2025
- 5 journalists in Taliban prisons end of 2025
- Article 17 ban on images of living beings in 16 provinces in 2025
More in Society
Former Afghan Taekwondo National Athlete Habib-Jaan Arab Dies
Bamyan Launches Campaign to Plant 385,120 Saplings
Afghan Cricket Team Officials Visit Injured Victims in Kabul Hospitals
UN Women Says Situation for Afghan Women Has Worsened Amid Escalation of Tensions with Pakistan
ReliableFormer Afghan Taekwondo National Athlete Habib-Jaan Arab Dies
The Afghanistan Taekwondo Federation announced the death of former national team member Habib-Jaan Arab, calling it a great loss to Afghan sports. Media reports said he died on Sunday from illness in Takhar province.
ReliableBamyan Launches Campaign to Plant 385,120 Saplings
Bamyan province has launched the Shani Sapling campaign to plant 385,120 fruit and non-fruit saplings, starting at Tapa Chuni recreational park. Governor Qari Gul Haider Shafaq emphasized the campaign's role in promoting a healthy environment and public health.
ReliableAfghan Cricket Team Officials Visit Injured Victims in Kabul Hospitals
Prominent Afghan cricket players including Nasib Khan Zadran, Gulbadin Naib, Hashmatullah Shahidi and Qais Ahmad visited injured victims from a recent incident at two Kabul hospitals, expressing sympathy, promising cash aid and condemning the event. The injured welcomed the support but highlighted ongoing economic hardships for their families.
ReliableUN Women Says Situation for Afghan Women Has Worsened Amid Escalation of Tensions with Pakistan
UN Women reported that conflicts with Pakistan have worsened conditions for Afghan women, affecting over 64,000 people in the east, mostly women and girls, amid ongoing restrictions and humanitarian needs. UN Secretary-General Guterres condemned the Taliban's education bans, saying women and girls are being erased from public life.